1903 ceremonial costumes from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich

22 May 2012, 16:20

On February 11, 1903, an Evening took place in the Winter Palace, and on February 13 of the same year, a grandiose costume ball took place. To this day, this ball, which has the code name “Ball of 1903,” remains the most famous holiday in St. Petersburg during the reign of Nicholas II, the last emperor of the Romanov family.
Preparations for the ball lasted several months. For the masquerade, those invited to the ball ordered Russian national costumes in the style of the 17th century: boyars and boyars, governors, stewards, gunners, falconers, townspeople, etc. His Imperial Majesty Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich - evening dress of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich On February 11, 1903, guests gathered in the Romanov Gallery of the Hermitage, and in the Great (Nicholas) Hall of the Winter Palace, walking in pairs, they gave a “Russian bow” to the hosts. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna - ceremonial clothes of the Russian queen The central event of the evening was a concert at the Hermitage Theater with scenes from Modest Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov" (the title roles were performed by Fyodor Chaliapin and Nina Figner), from the ballets "La Bayadère" by Minkus and P.I. Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" staged by Marius Petipa (with the participation of Anna Pavlova). Anna Sergeevna Istomina After the performance, they danced “Russian” in the Pavilion Hall. The dinner took place in the Spanish, Italian and Flemish halls of the Hermitage, where the evening table was served. Then Their Majesties and the ball participants proceeded to the Pavilion Hall, where the evening ended with dancing. Baron Feofil Egorovich Meyendorff On February 13, 1903, the second part of the ball took place; Among the guests were 65 “dancing officers” appointed by Her Majesty. Members of the royal family gathered in the Malachite Living Room, the rest - in the adjacent rooms. Baroness Emma Vladimirovna Fredericks At eleven o'clock in the evening, all the participants went to dance in the Concert Hall, where behind a gilded lattice on the podium there was a court orchestra in the costumes of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich's trumpeters, and 34 round tables were set up for dinner in the large Nicholas Hall. Buffets were located in the Concert Hall and the Small Dining Room, tables with tea and wine were located in the Malachite Hall. Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna - Boyaryna After dinner, guests and hosts returned to the Concert Hall and danced until one in the morning. General waltzes, quadrilles and mazurkas began after the performance of three specially prepared dances: Russian, round dance and dance under the direction of the chief director of the ballet troupe Aistov and dancer Kshesinsky. The cavaliers were young officers of the guards regiments: cavalry guards, horse guards and lancers. Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna - Peasant of the city of Torzhok The group of dancers underwent serious training: on February 10, 1903, at the general rehearsal in the Pavilion Hall, the ladies appeared in sundresses and kokoshniks, the men in costumes of archers, falconers, etc. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna were present at the rehearsal as the “jury”. Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Up to four hundred people danced at the ball. Those present especially liked the Russian dance performed by 20 couples, in which Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna and Princess Z.N. Yusupova Countess Sumarokova-Elston were soloists. Adjutant General Prince Dmitry Borisovich Golitsyn Duke George Georgievich of Mecklenburg-Strelitz By order of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, after the balls on February 11 and 13, 1903, the best photographers of St. Petersburg took single portraits and group photographs of the ball participants. These photographs served as the basis for the publication of a phototype album containing 173 images. The albums were distributed (for a fee) for charitable purposes, primarily among the participants of the ball. Chamberlain of the court Count Alexey Alexandrovich Bobrinsky - Boyarin “The impression was fabulous,” wrote an eyewitness to the event, “from the mass of ancient national costumes, richly decorated with rare furs, magnificent diamonds, pearls and semiprecious stones, mostly in antique frames...” Countess Alexandra Dmitrievna Tolstaya Countess Varvara Vasilievna Musina-Pushkina In the same costumes they appeared at a ball in the Sheremetev Palace, which took place on February 14 of the same year. Getting to know the phototypes allows you to imagine the direction of the artistic design of the masquerade costumes of the ball participants in their real embodiment. Here are presented the boyars and boyars, various court ranks from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich, falconers, archers, and townswomen in various clothes: from rich ferezis and platens to peasant sundresses with soul warmers.
A group of officers of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment in the outfits of the Initial People from the residents of the times of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich In general, the masquerade of 1903 in the Winter Palace, which caused a wide public response among contemporaries, now seems to be an event that has acquired a special meaning and significance that goes far beyond the scope of a specific action. Princess Elena Vladimirovna Golitsyna - Boyaryna Princess Elena Konstantinovna Kochubey Princess Elizaveta Nikolaevna Obolenskaya Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova - Boyarina Princess Nadezhda Alexandrovna Baryatinskaya Princess Nadezhda Dmitrievna Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya Princess Natalya Fedorovna Karlova - Boyarina Princess Elena Nikolaevna Obolenskaya Princess Olympiada Alexandrova Baryatinskaya Felix Feliksovich Sumarokov-Elston, Prince Yusupov Marina Nikolaevna Voeikova Maria Nikolaevna Lopukhina Your Serene Highness Princess Maria Mikhailovna His Serene Highness Prince Konstantin Alexandrovich Sofya Dmitrievna Evreinova Adjutant of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, staff captain A.A. Belyaev in the clothes of a 17th-century tenant with his wife M.F. Belyaeva in the costume of a noblewoman of the 17th century. Adjutant of the Grand Duke, Commander-in-Chief of the Guards of the St. Petersburg Military District Vladimir Alexandrovich, Count M.N. Grabbe in the clothes of a tenant in 1647. Alexandra Aleksandrovna Taneyeva in a costume for performing at a Russian ball Alexandra Petrovna Skoropadskaya (née Durnovo) in princely female attire from the time of Dmitry Donskoy. Baron Major General, head of the court orchestra Konstantin Karlovich von Stackelberg in the costume of a 17th-century boyar. Baron, Lieutenant of the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment K.S. Nolken in the outfit of the first man from the tenants of the times of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Baroness Jadwiga Johanna Alexandra Fredericks in the costume of a noblewoman of the 17th century.

"Dear Aprak,
...Okay, I’ll find out tomorrow, on the 12th I will have Ivanova with a costume model, I need to try it on - I’d really like to have you! Faberge also sent me a drawing for the kokoshnik. If you can, please come!
Ksenia"

"Dear Aprak,
Tomorrow on the 12th I will have the dressmaker Ivanova and some gentleman whom I saw at the exhibition (historical costume) and asked him to make me a drawing of a shoe! He apparently understands some things about antiquity and can give directions on costume! I'm tired of this question and I finally want to put an end to it tomorrow. Would you like to come too?! I would be very grateful, I hope you will have breakfast with us.
Ksenia"

"Dear Aprak,
Please come tomorrow for breakfast at half past 1. Let's decide about the kokoshnik and everything else! Thanks for the drawing. Hasn't done anything yet regarding the Becker case.
Kiss. Ksenia"

This is how Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna prepared for the ball. These are her letters to Princess Alexandra Alexandrovna Obolenskaya in January 1903...
The grandiose costume ball held in the Winter Palace in 1903 became the last big ball of the empire that was remembered by contemporaries.

This event was described many times, but the most complete story was found in il_ducess And alisas_land . I decided to combine these materials: this event is extremely interesting and grandiose.

Writes il_ducess at the 1903 Costume Ball.

It is my deep conviction that this ball was made in the likeness of the famous one in 1897, during the days when the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria’s reign was celebrated. Although, of course, at that time there was a fashion for such costume balls, it was still very similar.

The walls of the Hermitage had never seen anything like this either before or after this event. Without exaggeration, the entire political elite of Russia, the entire diplomatic corps, and foreign ambassadors gathered at this ball. This particular Ball is called the last ball of the Russian Empire. Nothing like this happened after.
On February 11, 1903, guests gathered in the Romanov Gallery of the Hermitage, and in the Great (Nicholas) Hall of the Winter Palace, walking in pairs, they gave a “Russian bow” to the hosts. The central event of the evening was a concert at the Hermitage Theater with scenes from Modest Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov" (the title roles were performed by Fyodor Chaliapin and Nina Figner), from the ballets "La Bayadère" by Minkus and P.I. Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" staged by Marius Petipa (with the participation of Anna Pavlova). After the performance, they danced “Russian” in the Pavilion Hall. The dinner took place in the Spanish, Italian and Flemish halls of the Hermitage, where the evening table was served. Then Their Majesties and the ball participants proceeded to the Pavilion Hall, where the evening ended with dancing.

On February 13, 1903, the second part of the ball took place; Among the guests were 65 “dancing officers” appointed by Her Majesty. Members of the royal family gathered in the Malachite Living Room, the rest - in the adjacent rooms. At eleven o'clock in the evening, all the participants went to dance in the Concert Hall, where behind a gilded lattice on the podium there was a court orchestra in the costumes of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich's trumpeters, and 34 round tables were set up for dinner in the large Nicholas Hall. Buffets were located in the Concert Hall and the Small Dining Room, tables with tea and wine were located in the Malachite Hall.

After dinner, guests and hosts returned to the Concert Hall and danced until one in the morning. General waltzes, quadrilles and mazurkas began after the performance of three specially prepared dances: Russian, round dance and dance under the direction of the chief director of the ballet troupe Aistov and dancer Kshesinsky. The cavaliers were young officers of the guards regiments: cavalry guards, horse guards and lancers. The group of dancers underwent serious training: on February 10, 1903, at the general rehearsal in the Pavilion Hall, the ladies appeared in sundresses and kokoshniks, the men in costumes of archers, falconers, etc. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna were present at the rehearsal as the “jury”.

By order of Alexandra Feodorovna, after the balls on February 11 and 13, the best photographers of St. Petersburg - Boasson and Egler, Renz and Schroeder, Levitsky and others - took single portraits and group photographs of the ball participants. These photographs served as the basis for the publication of a phototype album containing 173 images. The albums were distributed (for a fee) for charitable purposes, primarily among the participants of the ball. Familiarization with phototypes allows us to imagine the general direction of the artistic design of the fancy dress costumes of all participants in the ball. It came out in 1904.

Writes alisas_land in Costume Ball 1903

Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich wrote in “Memoirs”: “On January 22, 1903, “all” Petersburg danced in the Winter Palace. I remember this date exactly, since it was the last big court ball in the history of the empire.”

Given the scale of the event, dozens of tailors were hired to prepare the costumes. Just as during the historical ball of 1883, archival research was carried out in order to create the effect of maximum authenticity of the costumes from the time of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. It should be noted that the “small royal outfit” of Nicholas II was indeed partly authentic.

The sketch of the costume for the Tsar was developed by the director of the Hermitage I.A. Vsevolozhsky and the artist of the St. Petersburg imperial theaters E.P. Ponomarev. The fabrics were ordered from the Sapozhnikov firm, the supplier of the Supreme Court - two types of velvet and gold brocade. 38 authentic items of royal costumes of the 17th century were extracted from the Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin. Of these, 16 were selected for the costume of Nicholas II. Among them were pearl wrists that belonged to the son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich. An authentic staff of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was used as an addition to the costume. The buttons and stripes on the suit were made in Russia in the 17th century.
The costume for the Tsar was made by theatrical costume designer of the Imperial Theaters I.I. Cuffy, he was helped by two dressmakers, whose names have not been preserved. The royal hat was made in the hat workshop of the Bruno brothers, suppliers to the Imperial Court since 1872.

In 1904, the photo album “Costume Ball in the Winter Palace” was released.

Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich described the costumes of the ball participants as follows: “Xenia was in the dress of a noblewoman, richly embroidered, shining with jewels, which suited her very well. I was dressed in a falconer's dress, which consisted of a white and gold caftan with golden eagles sewn on the chest and back, a pink silk shirt, blue trousers and yellow morocco boots. The rest of the guests followed the whims of their imagination and taste, remaining, however, within the framework of the 17th century era.... Alike looked amazing, but the sovereign was not tall enough for his luxurious outfit. At the ball there was a competition for championship between Grand Duchess Elizaveta Fedorovna (Ella) and Princess Zinaida Yusupova... The ball was a great success and was repeated in every detail a week later in the house of the richest Count A.D. Sheremetev".

21 heliogravures and 174 light prints. Album du bal costume au Palais d'hiver, Fevrier 1903. 21 photogravues et 174 phototypies. St. Petersburg, printed in the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers, 1904. Title in Russian and French. In a soft binding of the era with gold stamping on the spine and top cover. 45.7 x 35.2 cm. Alternatively, in a publisher's calico folder. 10 notebooks. The album is a collection of photographs of the highest persons and persons who were at the said ball in Russian costumes of the 17th century. Very rare, because The publication was originally intended for ball participants.

Bibliographical sources:

Antique catalog of the Joint-Stock Island “International Book” M., 1924-1936, No. 54. M., 1934. Books on Art. No. 22 - $20!

A group of people dancing during the Russian ball.

A group of officers of the L-Gv. Preobrazhensky Regiment.

A group of officers of the L-Gv. Horse regiment.

A group of officers of the L-Gv. Gusarsky E.I.V. shelf.

All participants in the famous ball were dressed in costumes of the “pre-Petrine era”, specially created by the outstanding artist A.Ya. Golovin, as well as I.A. Vsevolozhsky, S.S. Solomko and the best tailors and costume designers N.P. Lamanova, I.I. Caffey, A.F. Ivashchenko and E.T. Ivanova. Luxury in costumes was successfully combined with grace. According to contemporaries, the ball was not just “a magnificent spectacle, but a complete work of art.” At the request of the last Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, the best photographers in St. Petersburg took photographs of all participants in the costume action. In 1904, a limited edition album of these photographs was published. Some of the ball gowns have also survived to this day. The brilliance of carnival costumes was so dazzling that they became a standard for stage and cinema artists who later turned to historical themes.

E.I.V. Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich.

E.I.V. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.

The costume ball, held in the Winter Palace on February 11 and 13, 1903, is a famous masquerade, during which all the nobility of the Russian Empire were present in extremely luxurious costumes of the “pre-Petrine era.” These costumes have survived to this day captured in photographs, which are a valuable historical source. To this day, this ball remains the most famous holiday in St. Petersburg during the reign of Nicholas II. The ball, organized to commemorate the next anniversary of the House of Romanov, took place at the end of the Nativity Fast and took place in two stages: on February 11, 1903, the Evening took place, and on February 13, the Costume Ball itself. On February 11, guests gathered in the Romanov Gallery of the Hermitage, then, walking in pairs, they greeted the imperial family, making the so-called “Russian bow”. This was followed by a concert at the Hermitage Theater, with scenes from Mussorgsky’s opera “Boris Godunov” (performed by Fyodor Chaliapin and Medea Figner), from the ballets “La Bayadère” by Minkus and “Swan Lake” by Tchaikovsky, staged by Marius Petipa (with the participation of Anna Pavlova).

E.I.V. Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.

E.I.V. Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich.

E.I.V. Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich.

After the performance, they danced “Russian” in the Pavilion Hall. It was followed by a gala dinner, held in the Spanish, Italian and Flemish halls of the Hermitage. The evening ended with dancing. On February 13, 1903, the second (main) part of the ball took place. All participants dressed up in costumes from the era of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. So, for example, Nicholas II was dressed in the tsar’s costume (“the evening dress of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich”: a caftan and opashen of gold brocade, a royal cap and staff - now kept in the Armory Chamber), and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in the costume of Tsarina Maria Ilyinichna. The court ladies were dressed in sundresses and kokoshniks, and the gentlemen appeared in the costumes of archers or falconers. Among the 390 guests were 65 “dancing officers” appointed by the empress, also dressed as archers or falconers from the 17th century. “The most spectacular entertainment in the old Moscow style was the costume ball in February 1903. Nicholas viewed it not as an ordinary masquerade, but as the first step towards restoring the rituals and costumes of the Moscow court. The courtiers were instructed to appear at the ball in 17th-century clothing. “The hall filled with ancient Russian people looked very beautiful,” Nikolai wrote in his diary.” “The impression was fabulous,” wrote an eyewitness to the event, “from the mass of ancient national costumes, richly decorated with rare furs, magnificent diamonds, pearls and semiprecious stones, mostly in antique frames. On this day, family jewelry appeared in such abundance that it exceeded all expectations.”

E.I.V. Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich.

E.I.V. Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich.

E.I.V. Grand Duke Dmitry Konstantinovich.

E.I.V. Grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich.

E.I.V. Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna.

The dances took place in the Hermitage Concert Hall (the court orchestra was also dressed in ancient Russian costumes), and lasted until one in the morning. General waltzes, quadrilles and mazurkas began after the performance of three specially prepared dances: Russian, round dance and dance under the direction of the chief director of the ballet troupe Aistov and dancer Kshesinsky. 20 couples took part in the “Russian”, and the soloists were Grand Duchess Elizaveta Fedorovna and Princess Zinaida Yusupova. (The ball was preceded by a dress rehearsal on February 10, 1903). The dinner was accompanied by the famous Arkhangelsk Choir. After the end, at the request of the Empress, the participants were captured by the best photographers of St. Petersburg (in the photographs of “Boassonne and Eggler”, “Reissert and Fliche”, “Levitsky and Son”, “K. E. von Gann and Co”, D. Asikritova, A Yasvoin, L. Gorodetsky and E. Mrazovskaya, D. Zdobnov, Ivan Voyno-Oransky, Renz and F. Schrader, and others), who created single portraits and group photographs of the participants. Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich - Book of Memories: “Xenia was in the dress of a noblewoman, richly embroidered, shining with jewels, which suited her very well. I was dressed in a falconer’s dress, which consisted of a white and gold caftan, with golden eagles sewn on the chest and back, "pink silk shirt, blue trousers and yellow morocco boots. The rest of the guests followed the whim of their imagination and taste, remaining, however, within the framework of the 17th century era." “The Tsar and Empress came out in the outfits of the Moscow Tsar and Tsarina from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich. Alix looked amazing, but the Tsar was not tall enough for her luxurious outfit.”

E.I.V. Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich.

E.I.V. Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich.

E.I.V. Grand Duke Alexy Alexandrovich.

“At the ball there was a competition for championship between Grand Duchess Elisaveta Fedorovna (Ella) and Princess Zinaida Yusupova. My heart ached at the sight of these two “crazy hobbies” of my early youth. I danced all the dances with Princess Yusupova until it was my turn reached the “Russian.” The princess danced this dance better than any real ballerina, but I received applause and silent admiration.” “On January 22, 1903, “the whole” of St. Petersburg danced in the Winter Palace. I remember this date exactly, since it was the last big court ball in the history of the Empire. Almost a quarter of a century has passed since that memorable night when Nikki and I watched the appearance of the Tsar The Liberator arm in arm with the princess under the gadflies of these halls, reflecting in their mirrors seven generations of the Romanovs. The appearance of the cavalry guards remained the same, but the face of the Empire changed dramatically. The new, hostile Russia looked through the huge windows of the palace. I smiled sadly when I read the postscript in the text invitation, according to which all guests had to be in Russian costumes of the 17th century. At least for one night, Nikki wanted to return to the glorious past of his family... The ball was a great success and was repeated in every detail a week later in the house of the richest Count A.D. ". Sheremetev. This remarkable reproduction of a 17th-century painting probably made a strange impression on foreign diplomats. While we were dancing, workers' strikes were going on in St. Petersburg, and clouds were gathering more and more in the Far East."

His Highness Prince Chakrabon of Siam.

His Highness Duke Mikhail Georgievich of Mecklenburg - Strelitzky.

In 1904, by order of the Imperial Court, a special gift “Album of a costume ball in the Winter Palace” was released in the Expedition for the Procurement of State Papers, containing 21 heliogravures and 174 phototypes. Copies were distributed for a fee for charitable purposes, primarily among the participants of the ball. In the same costumes, some guests appeared at the ball at the Sheremetev Palace, which took place on February 14 of the same year. In addition, a similar ball à la russe took place 20 years earlier, on January 25, 1883 in the palace of Vladimir Alexandrovich and Maria Pavlovna; and 1894 in the Sheremetyev Palace. Costumes for the ball were created in advance according to special sketches by artist Sergei Solomko and with the involvement of consultants and cost a fortune. Contemporaries also note the huge amount of jewelry with which the guests were showered. Several costumes worn by the participants in these celebrations have been preserved in the Hermitage collections. They came to the museum from various sources: from palaces that belonged to members of the imperial family (Zimny ​​and Novo-Mikhailovsky), from the mansions of the St. Petersburg nobility (Yusupovs, Golitsyns, Bobrinskys).

On February 11, 1903, an evening took place in the Winter Palace, and on February 13, a grandiose costume ball took place. This was the last ball of Imperial Russia. To this day, this ball, which has been given the code name “Ball of 1903,” remains the most famous holiday in St. Petersburg during the reign of the last of the Romanov family. It is remarkable that several of the costumes worn by the participants in these celebrations have been preserved in the collections of the State Hermitage. They came to the museum from various sources: from palaces that belonged to members of the imperial family (Winter and Novo-Mikhailovsky), from the mansions of the St. Petersburg nobility (Yusupovs, Golitsyns, Bobrinskys), as well as from museums and the Museum Fund, which existed in 1920-1930- s (art objects from numerous nationalized mansions of the St. Petersburg nobility arrived there). The markings and receipt documents preserved on the items confirm their origin. An album with portraits of participants in the 1903 ball is of great importance for the attribution of the masquerade dress from the Hermitage collection. By order of Alexandra Fedorovna, after the balls on February 11 and 13, the best photographers of St. Petersburg - Boasson and Egler, Alexander, Renza and Schroeder, Levitsky and others - took single portraits and group photographs of the ball participants. These photographs served as the basis for the publication of an album with phototypes containing about two hundred images. The albums were distributed (for a certain, rather high, fee) for a charitable purpose, primarily among the participants of the ball. Beautifully executed photographs allow one to see the smallest details of the costumes and, based on comparison with items in the museum, attribute a whole range of clothes, hats, mittens and shoes. In this way, individual items and sets belonging to twelve masquerade participants were identified. In the same costumes they appeared at a ball in the Sheremetev Palace, which took place on February 14 of the same year. Getting to know the phototypes allows you to imagine the direction of the artistic design of the masquerade costumes of the ball participants in their real embodiment. Here are presented the boyars and boyars, various court ranks from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich, falconers, archers, and townswomen in various clothes: from rich ferezis and platens to peasant sundresses with soul warmers.
His Imperial Majesty Sovereign Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich - evening dress of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich

Empress Alexandra Feodorovna - ceremonial clothing of the Russian Tsarina.

Her Imperial Majesty Maria Pavlovna

Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich

Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich

Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich

Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna

Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna - Boyaryna

Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna - Peasant of the city of Torzhok

His Serene Highness Prince Konstantin Alexandrovich Gorchakov

Your Serene Highness Princess Maria Mikhailovna Golitsina

Princess Elena Vladimirovna Golitsyna - Boyaryna

Adjutant General Prince Dmitry Borisovich Golitsyn

Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov

Princess Zinaida Nikolaevna Yusupova - Boyarina

Princess Elizaveta Nikolaevna Obolenskaya

Princess Natalya Fedorovna Karlova - Boyarina

Princess Nadezhda Alexandrovna Baryatinskaya

Princess Elena Konstantinovna Kochubey

Princess Nadezhda Dmitrievna Beloselskaya-Belozerskaya

Princess Olympiada Alexandrova Baryatinskaya

Princess Elena Nikolaevna Obolenskaya

Countess Varvara Vasilievna Musina-Pushkina

Countess Alexandra Dmitrievna Tolstaya

Duke George Georgievich of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Baron Feofil Egorovich Meyendorff

Baroness Emma Vladimirovna Fredericks

Chamberlain of the court Count Alexey Alexandrovich Bobrinsky - Boyarin

Marina Nikolaevna Voeikova

Sofya Dmitrievna Evreinova

Anna Sergeevna Istomina

Maria Nikolaevna Lopukhina

Nadezhda Ilyinichna Novosiltseva

“We looked at each other in amazement: as if by magic, all the familiar figures had turned into wonderful images from our eastern past.”

Grand Duchess Maria Georgievna

The brightest and most famous ball of the reign of Nicholas II was the costume ball of 1903, dedicated to the next anniversary of the House of Romanov. The ball took place on February 11 and 13, 1903 at the end of the Nativity Fast.

Group photo of participants in a costume ball in the Winter Palace

Looking at the photographs of the participants and the surviving costumes, one can hardly imagine that the idea of ​​holding this bright and perhaps one of the most famous balls in the history of European royal courts was born in a dispute between the son of the famous Russian poet Zhukovsky and the Minister of the Imperial Court, Baron Fredericks, during breakfast with the emperor at the end 1902. The point of the dispute was that Pavel Vasilyevich Zhukovsky accused Tsar Peter I of destroying Russian identity and imposing Western costume, and Baron Fredericks defended himself with the words: “if we were all dressed in Russian costumes now, we would look like the Chinese, whose embassies, arriving in their national costumes, arouse laughter in Europe.” Zhukovsky described Russian costumes so colorfully that by the end of breakfast, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna wanted to see all this splendor at the court ball. It was decided to coincide with the accession of the Romanovs to the Moscow throne in 1613, and the era of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich was chosen for the costumes.

Already on January 1, 416 notifications were sent out to people belonging to the highest nobility, but many at first accepted this idea without much enthusiasm. The coming year 1903 had already been planned in detail, and since they decided not to postpone the event, they decided to close the last theatrical evening of the season with a costume ball and scheduled it for the beginning of February. There was practically no time left for expensive suits; design and sewing had to be done immediately, and all this spontaneity entailed unplanned crazy expenses. More than 100 people immediately declined the invitation, while others, regardless of the costs, took up the preparations.

Despite the fact that the ball was to take place in the near future, the requirements for costumes were very strict. The outfit had to be unique and fully consistent with the era of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. All invited persons, as the director of the imperial theaters V.A. wrote. Telyakovsky “divided into two camps: some came to us for advice, others to Vsevolozhsky...” It was thanks to the advice and instructions of V.A. Telyakovsky and I.A. Vsevolozhsky, as well as archival research, the ball turned into a historically accurate event.

In the winter of 1903 in secular St. Petersburg, all the talk was about a costume ball scheduled for February 11. “Especially the ladies were completely stunned and forgot all the rules of social relations,” Telyakovsky was indignant. The bulk of the costumes were sewn in the workshops of the St. Petersburg imperial theaters, and dozens of tailors were involved in preparing the costumes, who worked tirelessly.

The costumes were created according to the sketches of the artist S.S. Solomko, E.P. Ponomarev with the involvement of historical consultants and were as reliable as possible. It was decided not to skimp on the decor of the costumes and they were lavishly decorated with the rarest furs, huge diamonds, pearls, gems - mostly in ancient frames, and even the orchestra members were dressed in ancient Russian costumes.

The Empress's "Big Dress" was designed by the artist E.P. Ponomarev. The image of one of the icons of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in the Moscow Kremlin was taken as the basis. It depicted Maria Miloslavskaya, the first wife of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Years later, ballerina Tamara Karsavina recalled: “The Empress in the heavy crown looked like a Byzantine icon.” The queen's outfit was decorated with a magnificent palm-sized emerald bordered with 54 diamonds. The Emperor, as Vsevolozhsky later recalled, “ordered me to find a suitable suit for him. He would like something long and not too flashy.” The Empress was against a “modest” outfit and insisted that her husband’s suit be as luxurious as her own.

Emperor Nicholas II and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna

The costume of the sovereign, like the empress, was designed by I.A. Vsevolozhsky and E.P. Ponomarev, and was sewn by the theatrical costume designer of the Imperial Theaters I.I.Kaffi. The “small royal” outfit of Nicholas II consisted of a caftan, decorated with authentic precious stripes from ancient royal clothes, a hat made of gold brocade, made in the hat workshop of the Bruno brothers, and the staff of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. In addition, 38 authentic items of royal costumes of the 17th century were ordered from the Armory Chamber of the Moscow Kremlin, of which 16 were selected, including pearl wrists that belonged to the son of Ivan the Terrible, Tsar Fyodor Ioannovich.

The outfit of the Tsar's younger brother, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich, was completely reconstructed based on archaeological materials and represented the costume of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich in which he was on the day of choosing a bride. It should be noted that Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich in this outfit conquered the whole society, and his sister Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna wrote in her diary: “Misha came in his suit and killed everyone.”

Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich

Despite the news on the eve of the ball that due to illness the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna and Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich would not be present, guests began to arrive at 8 o'clock in the evening on Tuesday, February 11, for the performance at the Imperial Hermitage. The invitees were in costumes from the time of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the court ladies were in sundresses with kokoshniks, the gentlemen were in costumes of falconers or archers, gathered in the Romanov Gallery and, walking in pairs, greeted the imperial family with a “Russian bow.” Then the entire audience watched the performance at the Hermitage Theater with scenes from Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov" and from Minkus's "La Bayadère" and Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" ballets staged by Marius Petipa included. Fyodor Chaliapin, Nina Figner and Anna Pavlova shone on stage. Afterwards, a dinner with champagne, Madeira, Russian-style Ropshin trout and many other dishes took place in the Spanish, Italian and Flemish halls of the Hermitage. After dinner, the evening continued with dancing in the Pavilion Hall until two in the morning.

Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna

On February 13, 1903, the second costume ball took place in the Concert Hall of the Winter Palace. The diplomatic corps was added to the previous guests. The ball opened with a polonaise from the opera by M.I. Glinka's "Life for the Tsar", then danced the "Russian" and continued with traditional dances: quadrilles, mazurkas, waltzes. Afterwards, according to tradition, dinner followed. 34 round tables were set in the Great Nicholas Hall. Buffets were located in the Small Dining Room and the Concert Hall, and tables with wine and tea were located in the Malachite Dining Room. For dinner, accompanied by folk songs and epics about Dobrynya Nikitich, they served foie gras, Nantua with oysters, ruff timbal and even pickles, Madeira drinks, champagne and red wine "Chateau-Margaux". Then the ball continued with dancing and ended at three in the morning.

On February 14, to a ball at Count A.D. Sheremetev's guests dressed in the same suits. Later, by order of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, the best photographers of St. Petersburg: Boasson and Egler, Renz and Schroeder, Levitsky and others took single portraits and group photographs of the ball participants. In 1904, albums containing 173 images were printed. They were distributed primarily among the ball participants for a fee for a charitable purpose.

Despite the Great Nicholas Ball of 1904, the costume ball of 1903 went down in history as the last ball of the Russian Empire and none of those present had any idea that everything would disappear so soon and irrevocably.

P.S. The article was written specifically for the exhibition: "Russian Tsars in London." The event was dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the House of Romanov and took place at the London office of Rossotrudnichestvo.

English version

From the memories of the ball participants:

“February 11th. The hall filled with ancient Russian people looked very beautiful. After dinner there was a small cotillion, during which 12 couples danced a Russian dance. Everything turned out very well and ended at 2 1/2.

February 13th. Thursday. At 9 1/2 a ball began in costumes from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich in the Concert Hall - a repetition of the previous one for Mama. Misha also arrived. The ball was fun, beautiful and friendly. The Russian dance was very successful. We had dinner in the Nicholas Hall.

February 14th. Friday. At 102 we went to a ball with Count A.D. Sheremetev. Half of the society was “ours” - in historical costumes. There was a repetition of yesterday's Russian dance."

Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich

“Ksenia was in the dress of a noblewoman, richly embroidered, shining with jewels, which suited her very well. I was dressed in a falconer’s dress, which consisted of a white and gold caftan with gold eagles sewn on the chest and back, a pink silk shirt, blue trousers and yellow morocco boot. The rest of the guests followed the whims of their imagination and taste, remaining, however, within the framework of the 17th century era.... Alike looked amazing, but the sovereign was not tall enough for his luxurious outfit. At the ball there was a competition for primacy between Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (Ella ) and Princess Zinaida Yusupova.... The ball was a great success and was repeated in every detail a week later in the house of the richest Count A.D. Sheremetev."

Letters from Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna addressed to Princess Alexandra Alexandrovna Obolenskaya. January 1903

"Dear Aprak,

Okay, I'll find out tomorrow, huh? On the 12th I will have Ivanova with a costume model, I need to try it on - I would really like to have you! Faberge also sent me a drawing for the kokoshnik. If you can, please come!

Ksenia

Dear Aprak,

Tomorrow at? On the 12th I will have the dressmaker Ivanova and some gentleman whom I saw at the exhibition (historical costume) and asked him to make me a drawing of a shoe! He apparently understands some things about antiquity and can give directions on costume! I'm tired of this question and I finally want to put an end to it tomorrow. Would you like to come too?! I would be very grateful, I hope you will have breakfast with us.

Ksenia

Dear Aprak,

Please come tomorrow for breakfast at? 1st. Let's decide about the kokoshnik and everything else! Thanks for the drawing. Hasn't done anything yet regarding the Becker case.

Kiss. Ksenia"

Anna Alexandrovna Vyrubova-Taneeva, maid of honor to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna

“The winter of 1903 was very fun. I especially remember this year the famous balls at the Court in costumes from the time of Alexei Mikhailovich; the first ball was in the Hermitage, the second in the concert hall of the Winter Palace and the third at Count Sheremetev. My sister and I were among 20 couples who danced the Russian. We rehearsed the dance several times in the Hermitage hall, and the Empress came to these rehearsals. On the day of the ball she was amazingly beautiful in a gold brocade costume, and this time, as she told me, she forgot her shyness, walked around hall, talking and looking at the costumes."

Baroness Sofia Karlovna Buxhoeveden, maid of honor to Empress Alexandra Feodorovna

“The Empress showed particular interest in all the preparations for this ball; she herself, with the help of the director of the Hermitage Museum Ivan Alexandrovich Vsevolozhsky, who provided her with the necessary historical information, designed her costume and the emperor’s costume.<...>Men and women from high society competed with each other at this ball. Magnificent staves, jewelry and furs were taken from private collections especially for this occasion. The officers dressed up in the uniforms of that time, and the courtiers dressed in dresses accepted at the court of Tsar Alexei. The Grand Duchesses were dressed like their ancestors, and their outfits were created by the best modern masters. Grand Duchess Elizaveta Fedorovna looked most charming at this ball. Everyone was dancing ancient Russian dances, carefully learned in advance - the spectacle was truly mesmerizing."